江苏留学网

An international student from Jiangsu University makes a toast to seniors in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province, on Oct 5. [Photo/IC]

A group of international students from Jiangsu University in Zhenjiang joined a local residential community to celebrate the traditional Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival, on Oct 5. 

Over 30 senior citizens, mostly living alone, enjoyed not only the company of the students, but also a scrumptious feast prepared by the students with the help of local volunteers. 

Chongyang Festival is traditionally held on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month, which falls on Oct 7 this year. 

According to the ancient and mysterious book Yi Jing, or The Book of Changes, the number "6" was thought to be a Yin character, meaning feminine or negative, while the number "9" was thought to be Yang, meaning masculine or positive. Therefore, when both the month and day are at "9", it creates the Double Ninth Festival, as Chong in Chinese means "double". 

As nine is pronounced "jiu" in Chinese, the same pronunciation as the word meaning "forever", ancestors considered it an auspicious day for the elderly. 

During Chongyang Festival, people often wear cornel twigs (dogwood), enjoy the smell of chrysanthemum flowers, eat Double Ninth cake, drink chrysanthemum flower wine, go climbing, or hold family reunions.